Yin Xiu made his way back to the courtyard humming softly in happiness after the successful sale of the goods. His mood greatly bolstered from the progress in their mission from Hu Fang. After they entered the courtyard Hu Meng excitedly leapt out of the shadows.
He prowled around for a few moments to stretch his muscles from hiding in Yin Xiu's tiny shadow all day. After his short burst of excitement he came behind Yin Xiu who was sitting down, and reading the scroll about Tempestuous Heaven's geography and major forces from Lu Yan's bookstore. Putting his head over Yin Xiu's shoulder he read the information alongside his friend peacefully.
After an incense stick, Hu Meng broke the silence "So, there are three major continents on Tempestuous Heaven, and we're on the middle continent? There are four major Death Zones just on our continent, and there are three so called Holy Lands as well?" Hu Meng felt like his entire worldview had taken a massive hit as he read each piece of information.
Yin Xiu replied with a happy smile "Isn't that good news though? The Heavens are so vast, and there is so much to explore!" He turned to look at Hu Meng excitedly "Just think about it, this has to be one of the greatest reasons to achieve Immortality. If we don't how can we explore the entire Nine Heavens? How much would we never see and experience if we don't reach that height?"
Yin Xiu got up and excitedly began pacing, as if injected with chicken blood as he imagined the future. "We need to try our best Hu Meng! You and I met due to a twist of fate, and I'm sure we have what it takes to help each other stand on the top of the Nine Heavens. There will be nowhere we can't go, and nothing we can't do."
He looked at the scroll on the ground, and pointed at the Forest of the Four Seasons which took up a large portion of the southern side of the central continent. An ominous black skull emblazoned in the center of its sprawling land mass. "We have to also solve the mystery of the forest. If we can overcome it, then we will truly have become powerhouses. That will be our first major goal after we become truly strong."
Hu Meng was also inspired by Yin Xiu's excitement briefly as he nodded back in agreement before pausing. "Well, if we are going to do any of that we have to figure out ways to cultivate first."
Yin Xiu also calmed down and brooded for a moment, "How has your meditation on that shadow based ore been so far?" Hu Meng's eyes darted around evasively for a moment before he coughed. "Well I haven't really had the chance since we've been so busy..."
Yin Xiu sighed slightly "I understand, but we have nothing to do until we meet Fu Ling, so you might as well get to it." Hu Meng grumbled to himself slightly in defiance before pulling out the ore with the flickering shadow. He curled around it and began observing its changes intently, as if determined to make progress as quickly as possible.
Yin Xiu in turn continued to scrutinize the central continent of Tempestuous Heaven closely, mentally marking some areas that he was interested in exploring in the future. After he finished, he noted that there was only a short amount of time until dark, and their appointment with Fu Ling.
He got up, and not yet disturbing Hu Meng's focus, began changing clothes. He changed out of his usual white robes, and donned his only black set. After that he draped the hooded cloak over his shoulders, and placed the inconspicuous wooden mask over his face. After raising the hood to hide his conspicuous purple hair he filled up a bucket from the well and observed his reflection carefully. 'There's nothing I can really do about my red eyes...' He inwardly grumbled, before he temporarily removed his mask until after they met with Fu Ling. Getting stopped by guards along the way for looking suspicious was not part of the plan.
After ensuring that he had prepared his appearance enough he went over to Hu Meng, and gently shook him out of his meditation. "Hu Meng it is time to go." The black tiger blinked the slight daze out of his eyes before stretching leisurely, and slinking back into Yin Xiu's shadow. "Since it'll be night time when we're in the market I can do a little snooping around and find out some more information about what exactly is going on with the Ye clan."
Yin Xiu nodded back in agreement as he shut the gate behind them carefully, and made his way to the foot of the mountain. "I have no issue with it, also keep an eye out for anything you might need, and let me know so I can purchase it for you while we're there." The journey to the designated meeting spot was over in a flash, as Yin Xiu quickly spotted the sleazy looking man right away. Making his way over naturally he nodded in greeting to Fu Ling, who nodded back and started navigating towards their destination silently.
The streets eventually became more rundown and deserted the farther they went until Fu Ling turned into a complex set of alleyways. After journeying through the complicated twists and turns for awhile they arrived at a door hidden behind a dilapidated shop that was almost indistinguishable to the naked eye. Fu Ling turned to Yin Xiu "Sir, now we are about to enter the market. There are three rules once inside. No fighting allowed, no theft, and no forced buying or selling." He paused and chuckled slightly "Unless you are good enough to not get caught that is."
Yin Xiu shook his head at the light joke, and put the plain wooden mask back on his face. Fu Ling then knocked on the door with a slight rhythm after making sure Yin Xiu was ready. It was then swung open by a guardsmen who eyed them critically until Yin Xiu pulled out the card with the Ye family's insignia. After seeing the card, the guard stepped aside for the two men to pass before closing the door behind them with a solid thump.
Yin Xiu walked out into a large open-air square filled with cloaked figures. Stalls were set up haphazardly displaying various goods. The difference between stalls could be unimaginable, one would be selling relatively normal goods like weapons or materials that might have a slightly shady origin, and another might be selling grotesque body parts for those cultivating nefarious arts to use. Walking through the strange marketplace equally curious and mortified as he observed increasingly gruesome wares. Trying his best to focus, Yin Xiu quickly observed the items on offer as he tried to find the tell tale glow of poison.
He stopped to inspect a few plants before leaving slightly disappointed, as they either weren't fire attributed, or not strong enough to use for his Heart refinement. Just as he was about to turn around to explore another area of the market, he noticed a rather bright glow from the corner of his eye. Looking over quickly he saw a shoddy stall that seemed to barely be held together with an owner who appeared just as frail. The hands peaking out from his robes were so thin you could practically count each individual bone.
Making his way over, he finally got a clear view of an herb that was dark red and spherical with three spur-like appendages on the end. Small jets of flame occasionally flickered in and out of the appendages. Inwardly ecstatic at the discovery he came to stand at the stall and asked in a deliberately hoarse voice. "What do you want for that herb there?" The stall owners sunken eyes creaked open slightly before a raspy voice that sounded like rattling bones escaped his lips.
"It's unidentified, so only fifty spirit stones, no bargaining." Yin Xiu pondered briefly as he continued to size up the herb. "Do you accept trades? I have a similar fire attributed herb that you might be able to identify." The stall owner looked at Yin Xiu deeply for a few moments. "It depends on if I think the deal is worth it." Nodding back in agreement Yin Xiu pulled out a medicine box from his storage bag, opening it briefly for the stall owner to observe the flaming ginseng he and Hu Meng had looted off of the two Azure Cliff Sword Sect disciples back in the forest.
The stall owner's eyes lit up in recognition as he inspected the ginseng. After ensuring that the trade was acceptable he quickly nodded to Yin Xiu in agreement. Not wasting any time they each contentedly placed their goods into their storage bags and ended the transaction with no nostalgia. As Yin Xiu walked away he was exited to once again have the opportunity to advance his cultivation. He could not only now refine his heart, but also his spleen since he had already found his earth attributed poison with the Desiccated Earth mushroom obtained after they defeated the stone-arm baboon clan.
Content with his purchase he began to leisurely inspect the surrounding goods, ignoring the less tasteful ones as much as possible. "Yin Xiu I'm going to look around." a whisper entered his ear. Nodding slightly in acknowledgment Yin Xiu continued his tour around the market only stopping once he saw a stall loaded with all kinds of weapons. Swords, daggers, bows, spears it was as decked out in merchandise as an entire blacksmith shop.